Ocean Play Tower

I mentioned in my previous post that I wanted to finish up the Ocean Play Tower so it would be ready for the July birthday box. I'd been working on the pattern, you can purchase here, for some time and the main structure was finished at the beginning of May. I had stalled when doing the finish work. When I realized it was Memorial Day weekend and June was around the corner I decided it was time to finish off the tower. What additional animals I add will be a matter of what I get done before the mailing deadline.

Along with adding another play set to the birthday box it also added the feel of a coral reef to the project.

The instructions for creating the towere were excellent. The tower came together well and the part that took me the longest were the outside decorations which I added before putting the towers together. The directions for these are also clear just time consuming. I chose to use smaller fibers rather than split fibers as suggested for some of the projects. My fish are larger than prescribed because I failed to change fiber and hook size.

Barbie Tennis Skirt and Top

I'm working through a 1995 Leisure Arts Fashion Doll Leaflet Vacation Fashion Doll Wardrobe and decided to make the tennis outfit. I realize there are more modern looks in tennis these days but not necessarily more modern Barbie patterns.

Since I have this one I thought I'd send Barbie off with a vintage tennis outfit. I've got the skirt finished for Skipper so she'll have a matching outfit. I just need to resize the pattern for the top to fit Skipper so Barbie will have a partner to play tennis with when she reaches her new home after the Christmas donation. I'm trying to track down mini tennis racquets. I have a couple of leads and I'll post information if I find them.

I used my Tulip Etimo Rose Steel Crochet Hook-Size 0/1.75mm for Barbie's skirt. The 1.5 mm hook ended up working for Skipper.

The top was a bit more challenging. I needed to go down to a 1.25mm hook and drop some rows as the shirt was too long for Barbie. When I made the first shirt with a 1.5mm shirt it actually fit Ken but it didn't look good on him.

I still need to finish Skipper's tennis top but I am trying to finish the Ocean Play Tower so it can be mailed at the end of June for my July birthday box. I'm hoping to make more ocean creatures for the overall theme but this structure is close to being done and I want to have it ready to mail.

Diver

This was actually the pattern that made me want to buy Bathtime Buddies when it first came out. This guy just stood out and made me laugh. I knew some day I was going to have to make him. When I thought about putting together this ocean set I realized he was going to have to be a part of it and thus the hunt began for the book I had lost.

The diver is made with Schachenmayr Catania sport cotton yarn and a D hook.

I added the eyes to the face plate before joining to the head as I wanted to use saftey eyes. This was something I learned after making the first head, which required me to make a second one. I make note of it should I decide to return to this project again. The hands are flat I made mine round.